Bush Budget Raises Cost of Medicare (From 400 bil to 540 bil)

[RamboLiberal]

http://apnews.myway.com/article/20040129/D80CL8D84.html

President Bush's new budget will project that the just-enacted prescription drug program and Medicare overhaul will cost one-third more than previously estimated and will predict a deficit exceeding $500 billion for this year, congressional aides said Thursday.

Instead of a $400 billion 10-year price tag, Bush's 2005 budget will estimate the Medicare bill's cost at about $540 billion, said aides who spoke on condition of anonymity. Bush will submit on Monday a federal budget for the fiscal year 2005, which starts next Oct. 1.

Bush just signed the Medicare measure into law last month. While it was moving through Congress, Bush, White House officials and congressional Republican leaders had assured doubting conservatives that the bill's costs would stay within the $400 billion estimate.

Some conservatives voted against the legislation anyway, and many of them are already angry that Bush has presided over excessive increases in spending and budget deficits.

[underpants]

1. Let's see carry the 1 ....ooops it costs 35% MORE

That's 140 BILLION more for his cronies.

[pinto]

2. would love to see a question about this from NH/national press

while B*sh is up there today. Medicare is a huge issue in NH....

[xxqqqzme]

3. one more lie 2 add 2 the pile

n/t

[neverforget]

4. Another tax cut and the budget will be balanced.

:argh: :grr:

[hatrack]

5. Surprise!!!!!!!!

Just when you thought this bill couldn't suck any more, along come some "miscalculations" and "new estimates" from ChimpCo.

Yeah, this'll go over REALLY well with the fiscally conservative Republicans.

[peterh]

6. It could go real well for Rep. W.J. "Billy" Tauzin, R-Louisiana…..

He now has a rather lucrative job offer to consider….quid pro quo anyone…..


http://www.cnn.com/2004/ALLPOLITICS/01/28/tauzin.pelosi/

[hatrack]

13. Oh, but that's different!

Don't you know that to even insinuate any malfeasance or unethical behavior is "ridiculous"?

A Republican public servant would never commit malfeasance or engage in unethical behavior!

Tauzin - what a pile of cat logs!

[underpants]

7. See, all those estimates of how much you were being ripped off were WRONG

It's worse.

[UpInArms]

8. Good Grief!

Doesn't anyone have two brain cells to rub together in the Repuke party?

Don't they know that * can't add and fuzzy math is his forte?

A pox on them and their houses.

[peterh]

9. Whopper of the day…

Hope this makes it on the Daily Show tonight…me doubts if anyone else will show it….

WASHINGTON (Dow Jones)--On the same day reports emerged that the federal
budget deficit will be larger than previously predicted, President George W.
Bush said the federal government "has plenty of money."
Bush made the comments Thursday during a stopover in Manchester, N.H., where
he met with workers from Fidelity Investments and community business people to
talk about the need to make his tax cuts permanent.

[pinto]

10. saw the comment....hope someone picks it up. Deficits R US.

[Wwagsthedog]

12. "Federal Government has Plenty of Money"?

Sure they do. They own the printing presses at the mint. All of us will have plenty of money too, just like the Germans in the 1920s. Only problem is that we'll need trucks and heavy duty handcarts to move it around. Banks will have to redesign statements to allow for more digits. etc., etc., etc. What an idiot * is.

[denverbill]

11. Wow. 1/4 of our total spending is now financed by borrowing.

The federal budget in 2003 was $2.13 trillion. If we are borrowing $500 billion next year, that's fully a quarter of the budget. Can you imagine spending 33% more than you earn every year to fund your current expenses? That's not a one-time deal. We aren't planning any $500 billion one-time expenses on some long-term capital improvement like buying a house. This is like not having enough money to pay your mortgage or car payment every month and just borrowing every month to pay for it, hoping eventually you'll get a raise to cover the 1/4 PLUS all the interest that keeps piling up.

[tkmorris]

14. I love the concept.

I think I'm converted. I will try this myself this year, staying within a budget sucks.

Anyone want to buy some tkmorris bonds? Anyone?